Image: FH Upper Austria
A 600 square meter hall with a multifunctional test facility for hydrogen research: This is the core of the new Upper Austrian hydrogen center at the University of Applied Sciences in Wels, which was launched in August and officially launched today, Wednesday, with a specialist conference.
“This means we can support companies in the efficient use of hydrogen and play an important role in international H2 research,” says Johann Kastner, Vice President for Research and Development at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. In parallel to the development of the infrastructure, research staff is being hired; 13 employees are already there, with more to follow. When it comes to hydrogen, it is not that difficult to find enough employees, says Kastner.
The research center is about the use of hydrogen in CO2-intensive industries, the development of components for hydrogen technology such as sensors, valves and fuel cell systems, as well as the storage, measurement and transport of hydrogen.
A total of 8.4 million euros will be invested in setting up the hydrogen center between 2023 and 2025. Of this, 7.3 million euros come from the state of Upper Austria (co-financed by the EU) and 500,000 euros from the city of Wels. The rest will be pre-financed by the FH and will come back through contributions from industry. The center is currently and will be working with companies such as Bosch, AVL and LAT Nitrogen. Hydrogen test stands alone, which are located in the hall rented by the energy supplier eww, cost more than one million euros each.
The Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences currently offers seven energy degree programs. In autumn 2024, an English-language specialization on the topic of hydrogen (Hydrogen and Battery Systems) will start in the Master’s program in Sustainable Energy Systems with 20 additional study places. Lecturers from companies, for example, are also being sought for this purpose.
The FH has been researching the further development of green hydrogen technologies on the Wels campus for more than ten years, says FH managing director Gerald Reisinger: “There are numerous dissertations, bachelor’s and master’s theses on this.”
The state government unanimously decided to finance the research center at its meeting on Monday. “Hydrogen that is produced in a climate-neutral manner is crucial for the decarbonization of domestic industry,” says State Economics Councilor Markus Achleitner. He refers to the start of the Upper Austrian Hydrogen Offensive 2030 around six months ago. The hydrogen network has already grown to more than 60.
The mayor of Wels, Andreas Rabl, sees the new center as strengthening the university location in Wels. “Research institutions attract new talent, investments and companies,” says Rabl. They also want to support the project towards a start-up center so that companies can be founded in the hydrogen sector.
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